The future Rumsey pool needs a second story.
Rumsey Aquatic Center is a beloved community asset in the heart of Capitol Hill. It's also one of the most heavily used Department of Parks and Recreation facilities in the District, and it's sorely in need of modernization.
In last year's city budget, I secured an additional $15 million to add a second floor in the $36 million modernization project. While respecting that Rumsey's core function must remain an aquatic center, the second floor is a major community priority, adding space for seniors and other programming while opening up more space on the ground floor level to deliver the community's top priority of more water for aquatic uses. A second floor is critical to ensure that there will be more pool space to protect and expand what Rumsey offers – from water aerobics, to lap swimming, to swim teams, and more.
However, when DPR unveiled its initial design concepts to the community in March, none of the three proposed designs included a second floor. That's a major problem, and it has to change.
In response to community pushback against a limited vision for this once-in-a-generation project, DPR will soon be coming back to the community with revised designs.
I'm sending a letter to DPR urging them to ensure the funded second floor is reflected in those designs, and we need to show the community's strong support. If you also feel that the future of this site should include the second floor, please sign on to my letter.
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FacebookThis pool is a unique asset that is underutilized because:
1) the aging facility cannot manage the water temperature (it has spiked to 90 degrees recently and has dropped as low as 70 in the past 12 months)
2) the patrons have to compete for water space. Lap swimmers are often limited to three lanes because the pool is blocked lengthwise or set swimming 20y width wise because it’s blocked width wise at the shallow end for waterobics or youth activity, both of which need devoted space
3) the facilities are old and uninviting – the showers no longer produce hot water, for example
Turning this into a 50m pool with modern aspects such as ozone filtration, a diving well, 25m width, and components for regulation water polo (read: adequate depth), is all possible and has not been shown not to be. It would turn the facility into the aquatic destination it should be – hosting athletic meets, accommodating multiple uses, and promoting aquatic ability across the SE DC community, a historic hallmark and purpose of the Rumsey facility – and is achievable with other recreational goals located on the second floor.